Collaboration and partnership are centred in all the work of BCAN. The best strategy to build the strength of a community is to recognize its assets and build on them.

Engagement is a vital community capital to bring about change and, in particular, system change. BCAN recognizes this, and as such, we embrace and strive for community and systems engagement and collaboration. As a result, any contribution BCAN has made within the community has come about in partnership and collaboratives. And for that, the BCAN family is extremely grateful for this opportunity to serve.

Akoma Wraparound Service Response 2020 Impact Report

The Black Community Action Network of Peel (BCAN), Free for All Foundation, Roots Community Services and Peel Children's Aid Society (Peel CAS) are proud to commemorate a year of success of their collective Akoma Wraparound Service Response. This initiative works to deliver culturally sensitive support to children, youth and families throughout Peel Region.

The Adoption Council of Canada’s African Canadian Equity and Inclusion Permanency

Committee (ACEIP) – Serving as the Ontario representative on this national community of experts dedicated to addressing and improving the permanency outcomes for African Canadian children and youth in and from the child welfare system

University of Toronto Youth Wellness Lab

The collaborative hub at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work brings together academic researchers, community-based partners and youth advisers with a shared goal of improving services and outcomes across multiple intersecting domains by, with and for young people.

The Social Economy Through Social Inclusion (SETSI) - Advisory Group Member 2019 - Present

Serving as a member of this engaging broad coalition of young executives, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, economists, researchers, lawyers, and social justice advocates whose mission is to create prosperity and abundance in our society, utilizing social innovation and enabled by diversity and inclusivity. 

Pathways and Prevention of African-Canadian Disproportionalities and Disparities in the Child Welfare System: A Position Paper

Ontario’s child welfare system provides protective services that affect up to 150,000 families per year, including out-of-home care services for 25,000 children and youth. While children’s aid societies (CASs) have increasingly adopted service philosophies that emphasize anti-oppression, inclusion, and diversity (Yee, Hackbush & Wong, 2015), African-Canadians continue to experience persistent disproportionalities and disparities in the child welfare system.

Peel District School Board We Rise Together Community Advisory Council Member 2017 - Present

Serving as a member of this landmark initiative to address anti-Black racism in public schools. In addition, this advisory council is working closely with the PDSB Director and leadership to ensure accountability and sustainability of the We Rise Together Action Plan to support Black students and the Ministry’s Directives.

Peel Regional Police Black Advisory Committee (PRPBC) Member/Chief’s Resource Council 2015 - Present

Serving as a member of this committee to provide advice to the Chief of Police on issues affecting the Black community, nurturing a strong relationship with the Chief and leadership to drive the courageous conversations necessary to affect real system change. To that end, Peel Police has ended the SRO Program that has a history of disproportionately impacting Black youth. Openly engaging the Chief about system change, this committee has contributed to the recent MOU between PRP and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). With the vision of ‘A Safer Community Together,' this committee continues to work collaboratively with PRP to further push for necessary actions to bring about meaningful systemic change. 

One Vision One Voice – Changing the Ontario Child Welfare System to Better Serve African Canadian Practice Framework Part 1: Research Report

For over a century, Ontario’s child welfare system has been mandated to protect the province’s most vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. With roots in the early twentieth century, the child welfare system emerged as a response to the growing marginalization of poor families and children who were victims of social and economic hardships produced by rapid industrialization and urbanization.

F.A.C.E.S. Full Summary Report

Facilitating Access, Change and Equity in Systems – examines the social well-being of Black youth in Peel Region and the supports needed to ensure the opportunity to thrive. The research presented is a compilation of demographic and socio-economic data as well as key interviews with service providers and Black youth themselves.

The Peel District School Board Action Plan to Support Black Male Students

In the new Peel Board Plan for Student Success, one of the four goals is “Achieve inclusion for all through our continuous progress on equity.” In the 2015-16 school year, we held focus groups with our black students as part of the specific Plan for Student Success project to support black male students.

Toronto Youth Equity Strategy – Pre-Charge Diversion

The City’s Toronto Youth Equity Strategy (TYES) was created as a framework to “ensure all youth can equally pursue their hopes, dreams and aspirations free of barriers based on race, gender, economic status and geography, and that all youth have the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to Toronto’s strength, vitality and governance”.